3.3 Active/Passive Voice, Direct/Indirect Speech & Vocabulary
Key Takeaways
- Converting active voice to passive voice requires making the active object the passive subject, inserting an appropriate form of 'to be', and using the past participle (V3) form of the main verb.
- In direct to indirect speech conversion, if the reporting verb is in the past tense, present tenses shift back one step into past tenses (e.g., Simple Present becomes Simple Past, Present Perfect becomes Past Perfect).
- Universal truths, habitual actions, and general facts retain their present tense in indirect speech even when the reporting verb is in the past tense (e.g., 'He said, "Water boils at 100°C"' becomes 'He said that water boils at 100°C').
- Adverbs of time and place change in indirect speech: 'now' becomes 'then', 'today' becomes 'that day', 'yesterday' becomes 'the previous day' or 'the day before', and 'here' becomes 'there'.
- Vocabulary questions on the PAF Airman exam evaluate context-based synonyms, antonyms, and word relationships, relying on root words, prefixes (e.g., 'un-', 'dis-', 'in-'), and suffixes.
Last updated: July 2026
In English grammar, voice indicates whether the subject of a sentence performs the action (Active Voice) or receives the action (Passive Voice). The PAF Airman exam tests sentence transformation between active and passive structures across various tenses, imperatives, and interrogatives.
Standard Active to Passive Conversion Formula
To convert an active sentence to passive voice:
- Identify the Subject, Verb, and Object (S-V-O) in the active sentence.
- Move the active Object to become the new passive Subject.
- Insert the appropriate auxiliary verb to be matched to the tense and new subject number.
- Convert the main verb into its Past Participle (V3) form.
- Place the preposition by followed by the original active subject (now the agent object).
| Tense | Active Voice Structure | Passive Voice Structure | Example Active → Passive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | S + V1(s/es) + O | O + is/am/are + V3 + by + S | The technician checks the jet. → The jet is checked by the technician. |
| Present Continuous | S + is/am/are + V-ing + O | O + is/am/are + being + V3 + by + S | The technician is checking the jet. → The jet is being checked by the technician. |
| Present Perfect | S + have/has + V3 + O | O + have/has + been + V3 + by + S | The technician has checked the jet. → The jet has been checked by the technician. |
| Simple Past | S + V2 + O | O + was/were + V3 + by + S | The technician checked the jet. → The jet was checked by the technician. |
| Past Continuous | S + was/were + V-ing + O | O + was/were + being + V3 + by + S | The technician was checking the jet. → The jet was being checked by the technician. |
| Past Perfect | S + had + V3 + O | O + had + been + V3 + by + S | The technician had checked the jet. → The jet had been checked by the technician. |
| Simple Future | S + will + V1 + O | O + will be + V3 + by + S | The technician will check the jet. → The jet will be checked by the technician. |
| Modals | S + Modal + V1 + O | O + Modal + be + V3 + by + S | The pilot must follow rules. → Rules must be followed by the pilot. |
Note: Intransitive verbs (verbs without an object, such as die, sleep, arrive, run) cannot be converted into passive voice. Continuous perfect tenses and future continuous tense are generally not converted into passive voice in standard English.
Converting Imperative and Interrogative Sentences
Imperative Sentences (Commands, Orders, Requests)
- Command Formula: Let + Object + be + V3
- Active: Close the main hangar door.
- Passive: Let the main hangar door be closed.
- Request Formula: You are requested / ordered to + V1 + Object
- Active: Please submit the report.
- Passive: You are requested to submit the report.
Interrogative Sentences (Questions)
- Questions starting with Who change to By whom:
- Active: Who repaired the radar system?
- Passive: By whom was the radar system repaired?
Direct speech quotes the exact words spoken, enclosed in quotation marks. Indirect (reported) speech conveys the speaker's statement without exact quotes, requiring adjustments in tense, pronouns, and time/place adverbs.
Rules of Tense Backshift in Indirect Speech
If the reporting verb is in the past tense (e.g., said, told, inquired), the verb in the reported clause shifts back one tense step into the past:
| Direct Speech Tense | Indirect Speech Tense | Example Direct → Indirect |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Present | Simple Past | He said, "I fly jets." → He said that he flew jets. |
| Present Continuous | Past Continuous | He said, "I am flying." → He said that he was flying. |
| Present Perfect | Past Perfect | He said, "I have landed." → He said that he had landed. |
| Simple Past | Past Perfect | He said, "I flew yesterday." → He said that he had flown the previous day. |
| Past Continuous | Past Perfect Continuous | He said, "I was flying." → He said that he had been flying. |
| Will / Shall | Would / Should | He said, "I will return." → He said that he would return. |
| Can / May | Could / Might | He said, "I can do it." → He said that he could do it. |
Exceptions to Tense Shifts
- Present Reporting Verb: If the reporting verb is in the present (says) or future (will say), the reported verb tense does not change.
- Direct: The instructor says, "The test is easy." → Indirect: The instructor says that the test is easy.
- Universal Truths & Facts: If the reported statement expresses a universal truth or habit, the tense remains unchanged regardless of the reporting verb.
- Direct: The teacher said, "Earth revolves around the Sun." → Indirect: The teacher said that Earth revolves around the Sun.
Shifts in Pronouns, Time, and Place Adverbs
When converting direct speech to indirect speech, words indicating closeness in time or place shift to words indicating distance:
| Direct Word | Indirect Equivalent | Direct Word | Indirect Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Now | Then | Ago | Before |
| Today | That day | Tonight | That night |
| Yesterday | The previous day / The day before | Tomorrow | The next day / The following day |
| Here | There | This / These | That / Those |
Conversion of Interrogatives and Imperatives
- Yes/No Questions: Replace the comma and quotes with if or whether. Change the sentence order from question to statement form (Subject + Verb).
- Direct: The officer asked, "Are you ready?" → Indirect: The officer asked if I was ready.
- Wh- Questions: Retain the question word (who, where, why, when, how) and change word order to statement form.
- Direct: He asked, "Where is the airfield?" → Indirect: He asked where the airfield was.
- Imperatives: Change reporting verb to ordered, requested, advised, commanded and use to + base verb.
- Direct: The commander said, "Stand at ease!" → Indirect: The commander ordered them to stand at ease.
Vocabulary accounts for a significant portion of the English section in the PAF Airman exam. Questions test your knowledge of synonyms (words with similar meanings), antonyms (words with opposite meanings), and contextual word selection.
High-Frequency PAF Exam Word List
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Synonyms | Antonyms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audacious | Adjective | Bold, daring, fearless | Intrepid, courageous, rash | Timid, cautious, fearful |
| Benevolent | Adjective | Well-meaning and kindly | Charitable, magnanimous | Malevolent, hostile, cruel |
| Candid | Adjective | Truthful and straightforward | Frank, honest, forthright | Evasive, deceitful, insincere |
| Diligent | Adjective | Showing care in work | Industrious, painstaking | Lazy, negligent, slothful |
| Ephemeral | Adjective | Lasting a very short time | Transient, fleeting, brief | Permanent, enduring, eternal |
| Frugal | Adjective | Economical in money or food | Thrifty, parsimonious | Extravagant, wasteful |
| Grievous | Adjective | Causing severe grief or pain | Serious, severe, tragic | Minor, slight, joyful |
| Hostile | Adjective | Unfriendly, antagonistic | Belligerent, inimical | Friendly, amicable, welcoming |
| Impeccable | Adjective | Faultless, flawless | Flawless, spotless, perfect | Defective, flawed, corrupt |
| Lethargic | Adjective | Sluggish and apathetic | Listless, torpid, inactive | Energetic, vigorous, active |
| Meticulous | Adjective | Extremely precise and careful | Painstaking, fastidious | Careless, sloppy, hasty |
| Obsolete | Adjective | No longer produced or used | Outdated, archaic, defunct | Modern, current, novel |
| Prudent | Adjective | Acting with care and thought | Wise, judicious, discreet | Reckless, foolish, rash |
| Resilient | Adjective | Able to withstand adversity | Tough, adaptable, hardy | Fragile, vulnerable, weak |
| Scrutinize | Verb | Examine closely and thoroughly | Inspect, audit, analyze | Ignore, overlook, disregard |
Prefixes and Root Word Strategies
Decoding unfamiliar words using Greek and Latin roots is a vital skill for PAF candidates:
- Bene- (Good / Well): Benevolent, Beneficial, Benefactor.
- Mal- (Bad / Harmful): Malevolent, Malicious, Malfunction.
- Omni- (All): Omnipotent (all-powerful), Omniscient (all-knowing), Omnipresent (present everywhere).
- Chron- (Time): Chronological, Synchronize, Chronic.
- Cred- (Believe / Trust): Credible, Incredible, Credulous.
Test-Taking Strategies for Vocabulary Questions
- Analyze Context Clues: Look for contrast words (although, however, but) that signal antonym relationships in sentence completion items.
- Eliminate Absolute Distractors: Options with extreme meanings can often be ruled out if the target word has a neutral or moderate connotation.
- Check Part of Speech: Ensure the chosen synonym or antonym matches the part of speech of the target word.
Test Your Knowledge
Convert the following active sentence into passive voice: 'The wing commander inspected the fighter jets before takeoff.'
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Test Your Knowledge
Select the correct indirect speech conversion: The instructor said to the cadets, 'I will explain the radar navigation procedures tomorrow.'
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Test Your Knowledge
Choose the word that is most nearly SYNONYMOUS with 'METICULOUS' as used in technical military maintenance.
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